Improvement in detaching cattle from stalls



WITNESSES 'I NVE NTOR' /2'Z$ H. S. NEFF.

DETACH'ING CATTLE FROM STALLS.

Patented May 9, "1876.

UNITED STATES HENRY S. NEFF, OF MANHEIM, PENNSYLVANIA. v

IMPROVEMENT IN DETACHING CA'iTLE FROM STALLS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,146, dated May 9, 1876 application filed February 15, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HENRY S. NEFF, of Manheim, in the county of Lancaster and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Disengaging Cattle, &o.', Attached to a Trough, of which the following is a specification: I

The object of this invention is to devise a simpler means for releasing any number of cattle or horses attached by halters or chains to a trough in a stable.

The accompanying drawing illustrates the arrangement, which, With the letters of reference marked thereon and a brief explanation, will enable those skilled in the art to make and use the same, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective drawing of a trough with the sliding plate,-hook-bolts, and lever combined. Fig. 2 shows the link or halter-chains in part.

A represents an ordinary feed-trough put up in barns or stables, having perforations at proper intervals, in the usual manner. To the inside of the trough a flat bar, B, is attached, and held and guided in its sliding motion by keepers O at sundry points. This bar B has a piece, D, hinged by pivots, and connecting it with a lever, E, on the outside of the stable; this lever is fixed by a jointed connection, F, below the attachment of the jointed bar D B, as shown. Said bar is provided, at the proper points, with right-angled hooks or bolts G, so as to pass centrally over the holes made through the trough, so that when the oblong oval link K is inserted, (and to which the halter or chain L is conne.cted,) the horizontal projection of the said bolt G enters through the opening in the link, and thus holds the chain, or any number of chains, along the trough. Ordinarily the attachment may remain and the halters detached from the horses and cattle in the ordinary way.

In stabling wild oxen it often becomes difficult to release the chains, as they will draw back; in such cases the lever may be of daily use.

I also show a modification at E, Fig. 1. An I inclined notch. is cut into the trough for a T- link, M, and the hook-bolt G set on the upper edge of the sliding bar B, as also an oblique at a moderate cost, and while it may prove of Y frequent utility and. of daily service, it is more especially attached as an assurance, in

the event of fire, to release all the animals at once in a stable.

I am aware that various devices are employed for disengaging horses or cattle in case of tire; but I am not aware that a flat bar attached to the inside of the trough, simply held in keepers without staples, and having the jointed connection attached to a lever, which is of use in an emergency, while the bar and bolts need not be employed on ordinary occasions, by means of the old-fashioned swivel-link attachment to the chain, being simply inserted or removed, as they are,

through the notch in the trough, together with an oblique lifter for the purpose of pushing the swivel-link out of the notch when the bar is drawn forward by its lever, has ever been used; therefore,

What I claim as my invention is- The combination of the oblique lifter I, bolt G, and lever E, when said lever is connected by a hinged piece, D, with a flat sliding bar, B, simply held in keepers 0 against the inside of atrough, A, arranged and operated as and for the purpose specified.

HENRY S. NEFF.

Witnesses:

W. B. WILEY, JACOB STAUFFER. 

